The place was spacious with dim lighting from large candles and torches. The sound of sword slashes, screams of pain, and thunderous laughter filled the spacious classic room. A foreign place that felt so far from sight. One given by the situation, felt tense.
"He will come as predicted." The sentence sounded soft but so clear with laughter that broke the night sky.
The pair of eyes stared sadly, a thin smile on his lips before his head fell to the floor that was no longer shapeless.
"No!"
Leon woke up with sweat pouring down his face. His breath was gasping and panting. The boy swallowed his saliva greedily. His throat was dry. Calming himself slowly, Leon was surprised by the figure who was still in his place, staring at him who was starting to calm down.
"You surprised me," Leon complained to the person sitting on his bed.
"Are you okay?" Zenata asked softly. The distance between the beds was about three to four meters so it was close enough to talk to each other.
Leon nodded his head. The man then wiped his wet face got out of bed and walked towards the table to drink the water provided there. Leon sat down while cupping his palms on his face. The dream was strange but felt real as if it was a shadow.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Zenata's voice was now getting closer and the girl sat in front of Leon, only blocked by the table.
"Yes," Leon answered briefly as he lowered his hand from his face and looked at Zenata. "Aren't you sleeping?" he asked then.
"No. This place makes me uncomfortable. Lots of mosquitoes, and dust everywhere. This place is also disgusting, I can't sleep well because it's noisy," Zenata explained irritably.
Leon didn't respond to anything, the girl was always arrogant and spoiled. Leon didn't want to respond to anything because it would be in vain.
"I want to go back. You brought me here," Zenata said making Leon look at her. The girl looked angry. "If only you didn't take me, I wouldn't be stuck in this disgusting slum. These clothes are uncomfortable, they make my skin itch. The bathroom is weird and I want to throw up when I see it. It's all your fault."
Leon was speechless when Zenata blamed him like that.
"Is it my fault?" Leon couldn't believe it.
"Yes. It's your fault. If only you let me, I wouldn't be here. This damn place is crazy," Zenata cursed loudly. The girl was frustrated.
"If I didn't help you, would you be able to live there alone? Among those human statues?" Leon asked, starting to get emotional.
"Yes, of course. At least, I could take a taxi home and live at home, not in a dark and strange place like this. It bothers me."
Leon couldn't understand Zenata. He didn't think about taking the girl. He only thought about saving someone and didn't expect that they would end up in such a strange place.
"What's wrong? Why is it so noisy?" Gio asked in his hoarse voice because he had just woken up. The boy woke up to Zenata's loud voice.
Not only did Gio wake up, but Sean and Viona also woke up and focused their attention forward, towards Leon and Zenata.
“I want to go home,” Zenata said again.
“That’s impossible,” Leon replied.
“Why? You brought me here, so let me go home. I don’t want to continue this journey, or this ridiculous mission to go home. No. I want to go home now.” Zenata rose from her seat roughly until the long wooden chair collapsed and made quite a loud noise.
Leon stared at Zenata angrily, how could the girl act like that when she didn’t know what to do?
“I don’t care about you guys. I just want to go home and go home. So, let me, Leon.”
“I can’t, Zena!” Leon replied firmly and stood up from his seat.
“Why? You brought me here, you have to take responsibility.” Zenata’s voice rose again, even the girl was crying. “I don’t want to be here, I want to go home.”
Not only Leon who was now standing, Sean also approached her. Gio and Viona also stood near their respective beds.
“What’s wrong, Le?” Sean asked.
Leon just shook his head in response to Sean’s question because he didn’t know what was wrong with Zenata.
“I don’t know. I don’t even understand all this that’s happening. I need time to believe and digest all this,” Leon said trying to explain. “You also heard what the system said. If we want to go back then we have to”
“No!” Zenata interrupted loudly and glared sharply at Leon. “I don’t care about that stupid system. All I want is to go back.”
Dealing with someone as stubborn and spoiled as Zenata was not easy. Leon sighed tiredly, the events were too consecutive.
“If you want to go back, go by yourself. I don’t care either,” Leon finally said while staring at Zenata coldly.
“Leon.” Viona reprimanded, according to her it was too rash.
“Zenata said she wanted to go back and insisted even though she knew I couldn’t find a way back. We haven’t even started yet, how can we possibly get that key?” Leon explained. “So if you want to go back, go by yourself. I don’t care. A spoiled and stubborn girl like you will only be a burden.”
Leon’s words shocked the others.
Zenata stared at Leon in disbelief and snorted harshly. The girl wiped the tears on her cheeks and glared at Leon sharply.
“Okay. I’ll go back. I don’t care either.”
Zenata kicked the wooden chair on the floor that was blocking her way roughly. The girl went to the door to leave.
However, they made a mistake and broke the rules that Azlan had told them.
Zenata screamed as she carelessly opened the door. In front of the door was a figure wearing a black robe floating. They smelled a foul odour from the strange creature that had no face. In an instant, Zenata’s body was floating in the air with both hands holding her neck. It was as if the girl was about to remove something from her neck, and she even seemed to be panting.
“Please,” the girl said softly. But the black-robed figure with no face tightened its invisible grip.
Instead, Leon, Sean, Gio, and Viona, did not know what to do but stared at Zenata and panicked and became confused.
“Do something,” Sean said.
Leon took his arrow and aimed it at the black creature but a bright light shot out first and hit the black creature so that it bounced. Zenata managed to escape from the invisible figure’s grip and fell to the floor with a loud thud. They immediately ran to Zenata, but the girl was unconscious.
They watched the fight between Azlan and the faceless black creature. The light that shot quickly belonged to Azlan. Leon watched from his position with both hands holding Zenata's body. Actually, what is that black creature?"This is an established safety zone. You don't need to break into it even if there's a commotion. Get out there!" Azlan shouted angrily at the creature floating in the air.There weren't just one or two creatures there, but there were several. The bright light that was still shining chased away the black creatures. After the creatures left, the light there began to dim."Everyone, come in. It's safe now," said Azlan to the other guests staying there. They came out of their respective rooms when they heard the commotion. When the creatures came, they were afraid.There are guards in each room who reassure the residents that the situation has improved even though it is still tense
The sound of laughter was always the same, echoing with a condescending gaze that was not always visible in the boy's two eyes. The sound of the devil's laughter was satisfying seeing his prey suffer, even his hands never stopped leaving bruises all over the body."What are you looking at, you bastard?" the boy in the high school uniform scolded.The boy's face was already red, the corners of his lips were bleeding, and even from his nostrils came a red liquid that could not be stopped at all. Not only in the area of the face that had been damaged by the boy's punches and kicks, the figure who still chanted the terrifying laughter that was feared by all senior students of Veritas School, an elite educational institution that was only filled with students from the upper class. However, there was one lucky student who could get in there, unfortunately, the student had to become a toy for the rich kid who had no manners.Leon Alexander Elard, a 12th-grade student at Veritas School rece
Leon woke up on a bed in a room he usually went to when his body ached. Yes, that place was a health room like a hospital because specifically in that school the health room was handled by a selected doctor."Are you awake?" The voice greeted him along with the appearance of her face that Leon saw.A woman in a white doctor's coat approached him, examining Leon who was having difficulty getting up."Those crazy kids are really cruel. How many more times will they create chaos by playing with someone's life?" the female doctor grumbled after helping Leon sit on the bed.Yes, that's it. Because Jono had too often seriously injured his students, the school, especially the boy's father and mother, took the initiative to build a small hospital in the school called the health room because by being handled by a specialist doctor, the victims would not need to be rushed to the hospital. After all, if they brought victims too often it would only attract attention.Leon ignored the grumbling of
“Leon!”His footsteps stopped again when someone called his name as he was about to turn from the direction of the 3rd-grade high school building towards building 2. Leon turned and found a girl running towards him.Of course, Leon remembered that face. The face of a girl who was sobbing while being beaten by Jono. A moment before Leon lost consciousness, the girl's face appeared.“Viona?” Leon greeted while calling the name of the girl who stopped two steps in front of them.Viona's breath was short, her face confused but happy at the same time when she saw Leon.“Are you okay?” Leon asked realizing the girl's presence even though the one who should have been asked was Leon himself because his face was still bruised.“Yes, I'm fine. But this…” Viona didn't continue her sentence because she was sure Leon and the others understood what she meant.“I know. Is it just you?” Leon asked.“Yes. Just me. My friends and the others didn't move at all. What's wrong?” Viona asked.“I don't know
“Try pressing the watch on each of your hands,” said Moe.Moe resembled a cat’s face with a cute male voice. Funnily enough, Moe’s body soon appeared in the form of a cat with thick grey fur.Viona looked surprised to see Moe’s moving form and the girl approached.“So cute,” said Viona happily, even reaching out her hand. Amazingly, Moe could be touched even though it was just a system.Leon pressed the watch on his hand, and a screen spread out in front of him. The boy turned to the others, but saw nothing, only finding Sean who looked silent with his gaze focused forward. Gio was the same, nodding his head and even occasionally exclaiming. Then he turned to Zenata but the girl seemed to be staring at him. Leon turned his attention back to the front, ignoring Zenata. After all, Zenata was one of Jono’s henchmen, someone Leon hated.“What’s going on, Maya?” asked Leon.“That’s the system you have. Information that only you know. No one can see it except you,” replied Maya.Was that wh
“Are you done?” Maya returned but her appearance was different from before. This time Maya was wearing a combat outfit like in a game movie. “What happened?” Maya was confused as the children stared at her.“Maya, there’s something strange with this kid’s system,” Moe reported while pointing at Leon.“What do you mean?” Maya asked in confusion.“Look. His sword blade is gone,” Moe said again.This time Maya’s attention was drawn to Leon who was still holding his sword. But Maya’s eyes widened and she approached Leon.“A Sword Without a Blade?” Maya said in surprise. The girl then looked at Leon’s face, circling the boy’s body.Everyone fell silent and looked at each other. They didn’t know what Leon’s sword meant.Maya’s expression looked worried now. The girl stopped right in front of Leon and stared at the boy sharply.“Put your sword away. Never draw it unless you feel something strange,” Maya said in a serious voice.No one understood what Maya was saying except Moe.“The Chosen O
The summer village had characteristics like the seasons they recognized in the real world. Where in the summer people would dress a little open, go on vacation, or sunbathe on the beach. In that place it was not much different, only every building they saw was different. There were no tall buildings or luxurious houses, there were only traditional houses or buildings with natural materials from wood, bamboo, or even leaves. Very unique."First, let's find a place to stay," Leon said with a busy look looking for a place.They walked among people wearing summer clothes but strangely each of them was wearing a black robe, like the one they were wearing."Excuse me," Leon stopped a woman wearing an open dress, showing her long white shoulders under her black robe."Yes?" The woman answered but was not friendly at all."Is there an inn here?" Leon asked.There was no answer from the woman. But the woman's hand was raised."Just go straight, then turn from that big tree. There is an inn the
The five children were silent in the dim candlelight in the large room. Their minds were still affected by the story they had just heard from Azlan, a stranger who owned the Poisonous Rose Inn in Summer Village.Sean was the first to react, the boy turned away from the middle of the room and chose one of the beds."This room is strange," Sean said, making everyone's attention turn to him. "It's as if this room is specifically for us. As if the innkeeper knew we were coming," the boy continued as he turned around.However, Sean's forehead wrinkled as his vision suddenly blurred. The boy rubbed his eyes while the others looked around. When Sean took off the glasses he always wore, his vision suddenly became clear. To make sure that it might be wrong, Sean put his glasses back on but his vision was blurry."Wow. I'm fine without glasses," Sean said in disbelief and decided to take off his glasses with a big smile.Sean's eyes were indeed minus which made the boy always wear glasses."I d
They watched the fight between Azlan and the faceless black creature. The light that shot quickly belonged to Azlan. Leon watched from his position with both hands holding Zenata's body. Actually, what is that black creature?"This is an established safety zone. You don't need to break into it even if there's a commotion. Get out there!" Azlan shouted angrily at the creature floating in the air.There weren't just one or two creatures there, but there were several. The bright light that was still shining chased away the black creatures. After the creatures left, the light there began to dim."Everyone, come in. It's safe now," said Azlan to the other guests staying there. They came out of their respective rooms when they heard the commotion. When the creatures came, they were afraid.There are guards in each room who reassure the residents that the situation has improved even though it is still tense
The place was spacious with dim lighting from large candles and torches. The sound of sword slashes, screams of pain, and thunderous laughter filled the spacious classic room. A foreign place that felt so far from sight. One given by the situation, felt tense."He will come as predicted." The sentence sounded soft but so clear with laughter that broke the night sky.The pair of eyes stared sadly, a thin smile on his lips before his head fell to the floor that was no longer shapeless."No!"Leon woke up with sweat pouring down his face. His breath was gasping and panting. The boy swallowed his saliva greedily. His throat was dry. Calming himself slowly, Leon was surprised by the figure who was still in his place, staring at him who was starting to calm down."You surprised me," Leon complained to the person sitting on his bed."Are you okay?" Zenata asked soft
The five children were silent in the dim candlelight in the large room. Their minds were still affected by the story they had just heard from Azlan, a stranger who owned the Poisonous Rose Inn in Summer Village.Sean was the first to react, the boy turned away from the middle of the room and chose one of the beds."This room is strange," Sean said, making everyone's attention turn to him. "It's as if this room is specifically for us. As if the innkeeper knew we were coming," the boy continued as he turned around.However, Sean's forehead wrinkled as his vision suddenly blurred. The boy rubbed his eyes while the others looked around. When Sean took off the glasses he always wore, his vision suddenly became clear. To make sure that it might be wrong, Sean put his glasses back on but his vision was blurry."Wow. I'm fine without glasses," Sean said in disbelief and decided to take off his glasses with a big smile.Sean's eyes were indeed minus which made the boy always wear glasses."I d
The summer village had characteristics like the seasons they recognized in the real world. Where in the summer people would dress a little open, go on vacation, or sunbathe on the beach. In that place it was not much different, only every building they saw was different. There were no tall buildings or luxurious houses, there were only traditional houses or buildings with natural materials from wood, bamboo, or even leaves. Very unique."First, let's find a place to stay," Leon said with a busy look looking for a place.They walked among people wearing summer clothes but strangely each of them was wearing a black robe, like the one they were wearing."Excuse me," Leon stopped a woman wearing an open dress, showing her long white shoulders under her black robe."Yes?" The woman answered but was not friendly at all."Is there an inn here?" Leon asked.There was no answer from the woman. But the woman's hand was raised."Just go straight, then turn from that big tree. There is an inn the
“Are you done?” Maya returned but her appearance was different from before. This time Maya was wearing a combat outfit like in a game movie. “What happened?” Maya was confused as the children stared at her.“Maya, there’s something strange with this kid’s system,” Moe reported while pointing at Leon.“What do you mean?” Maya asked in confusion.“Look. His sword blade is gone,” Moe said again.This time Maya’s attention was drawn to Leon who was still holding his sword. But Maya’s eyes widened and she approached Leon.“A Sword Without a Blade?” Maya said in surprise. The girl then looked at Leon’s face, circling the boy’s body.Everyone fell silent and looked at each other. They didn’t know what Leon’s sword meant.Maya’s expression looked worried now. The girl stopped right in front of Leon and stared at the boy sharply.“Put your sword away. Never draw it unless you feel something strange,” Maya said in a serious voice.No one understood what Maya was saying except Moe.“The Chosen O
“Try pressing the watch on each of your hands,” said Moe.Moe resembled a cat’s face with a cute male voice. Funnily enough, Moe’s body soon appeared in the form of a cat with thick grey fur.Viona looked surprised to see Moe’s moving form and the girl approached.“So cute,” said Viona happily, even reaching out her hand. Amazingly, Moe could be touched even though it was just a system.Leon pressed the watch on his hand, and a screen spread out in front of him. The boy turned to the others, but saw nothing, only finding Sean who looked silent with his gaze focused forward. Gio was the same, nodding his head and even occasionally exclaiming. Then he turned to Zenata but the girl seemed to be staring at him. Leon turned his attention back to the front, ignoring Zenata. After all, Zenata was one of Jono’s henchmen, someone Leon hated.“What’s going on, Maya?” asked Leon.“That’s the system you have. Information that only you know. No one can see it except you,” replied Maya.Was that wh
“Leon!”His footsteps stopped again when someone called his name as he was about to turn from the direction of the 3rd-grade high school building towards building 2. Leon turned and found a girl running towards him.Of course, Leon remembered that face. The face of a girl who was sobbing while being beaten by Jono. A moment before Leon lost consciousness, the girl's face appeared.“Viona?” Leon greeted while calling the name of the girl who stopped two steps in front of them.Viona's breath was short, her face confused but happy at the same time when she saw Leon.“Are you okay?” Leon asked realizing the girl's presence even though the one who should have been asked was Leon himself because his face was still bruised.“Yes, I'm fine. But this…” Viona didn't continue her sentence because she was sure Leon and the others understood what she meant.“I know. Is it just you?” Leon asked.“Yes. Just me. My friends and the others didn't move at all. What's wrong?” Viona asked.“I don't know
Leon woke up on a bed in a room he usually went to when his body ached. Yes, that place was a health room like a hospital because specifically in that school the health room was handled by a selected doctor."Are you awake?" The voice greeted him along with the appearance of her face that Leon saw.A woman in a white doctor's coat approached him, examining Leon who was having difficulty getting up."Those crazy kids are really cruel. How many more times will they create chaos by playing with someone's life?" the female doctor grumbled after helping Leon sit on the bed.Yes, that's it. Because Jono had too often seriously injured his students, the school, especially the boy's father and mother, took the initiative to build a small hospital in the school called the health room because by being handled by a specialist doctor, the victims would not need to be rushed to the hospital. After all, if they brought victims too often it would only attract attention.Leon ignored the grumbling of
The sound of laughter was always the same, echoing with a condescending gaze that was not always visible in the boy's two eyes. The sound of the devil's laughter was satisfying seeing his prey suffer, even his hands never stopped leaving bruises all over the body."What are you looking at, you bastard?" the boy in the high school uniform scolded.The boy's face was already red, the corners of his lips were bleeding, and even from his nostrils came a red liquid that could not be stopped at all. Not only in the area of the face that had been damaged by the boy's punches and kicks, the figure who still chanted the terrifying laughter that was feared by all senior students of Veritas School, an elite educational institution that was only filled with students from the upper class. However, there was one lucky student who could get in there, unfortunately, the student had to become a toy for the rich kid who had no manners.Leon Alexander Elard, a 12th-grade student at Veritas School rece